Slide, caster, or the like for furniture



April 25, 1939. w. F. HERQLD 2,155,829

SLIDE, (FASTER, OR THE LIKE FOR FURNITURE Filed Nov. 26, 19:57

INVENTOR v WALTER F HEREILD.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE SLIDE, CASTER, OR THE LIKE FOR FURNITURE Application November 26, 1937, Serial No. 176,736

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved slide, caster or the like for furniture, particularly for attachment to tubular metal legs. It is an object to provide a slide, caster or the like having attachment means which may be inserted in an aperture formed in the base or wall of. the leg, and which is thereupon operative to expand in relation to the inner surface of the wall, so that an interlocking connection similar to riveting is provided. It is particularly proposed to provide such means which may be operated by rotating the slide from the outside and which will require no manipulation whatever from the inside.

In the manufacture of metal furniture the tubular legs are provided at their bases with a metal insert for supporting the leg against collapse, this insert being welded or otherwise suitably secured in place. It is customary to provide this insert with a relatively large aperture so that the liquid that is employed in the finishing treatment to which the leg is subjected, and which liquid flows into the interior of the leg, will not become trapped in the leg, but may drain therefrom through such aperture. Because of this construction it has been extremely difficult to provide a simple, inexpensive and convenient attachment for securing slides, casters or the like to the leg. It is proposed in the present invention to utilize the apertured plate in. the bottom of the leg for cooperating with the attachment means of the slide, caster or the like, according to the invention.

The invention is also especially suitable for attachment to horizontally extending furniture leg portions, such, for instance, as the base portions of. tubular metal legs of so called modernistic furniture, and in this connection the invention may be applied to such legs simply by grinding or otherwise forming an aperture in the under surface of such leg portion.

With the above and other objects in view, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, and these embodiments will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a slide according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lower end of a tubular metal leg of square cross-section having a reinforcing plate secured in the lower end .and to which the slide according to the invention is adapted to be secured.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing the slide illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 inserted in the leg illustrated in Fig. 3, and before securing the attachment means.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the leg in vertical section and the slide in side elevation, the latter being secured in the leg.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention adapted for attachment to a horizontally disposed cylindrical tubular leg.

Fig. '7 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 8 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section of an apertured portion or" a horizontally disposed cylindrical tubular leg, to which the slide as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is adapted to be attached.

Fig. 9 is a bottom View of the leg as seen in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical sectional view showing the slide illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 secured in the leg illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the cushion slide, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises a circular cushion body I0 formed of rubber or other suitable resilient material, provided about midway between its upper and lower surfaces with a laterally extending peripheral groove I I, the peripheral portion of the rubber body beneath this groove being of semi-circular cross-section and constituting a plug section I2 adapted for insertion in the sliding metal shoe or base I3, which is provided with an upwardly and inwardly curved rim I4 and into which the plug section I2 may be forced and then expanded to thus interlockingly retain the parts together.

A cylindrical vertical passage I5 is provided in the cushion body at the lower end of which there is provided in the lower surface of the cushion body a circular recess I6 and in which recess is engaged the head ll of a vertically disposed screw I8 engaged in. the passage I5 and projecting upwardly above the upper surface of. the cushion body. The depth of the recess I6 is greater than the thickness of the head I! to provide a space within which the head may move during flexing and tilting of the slide.

At the upper side of the cushion body I ll there is provided a fiat centrally apertured plate I 9 loosely engaged with the screw I8 and having its outer periphery preferably coinciding with or projecting beyond the outer periphery of the cushion body ill. The screw I8 is so connected to the cushion body Ill that there will be no relative rotation between, and thus the screw may be turned manually by utilizing the peripheral surface as a turning knob which may be conveniently gripped by the fingers. This non-rotatable relation between the cushion body and the screw may be brought about in any suitable manner as by tightly engaging the screw threads of the screw in the passage 15 of the cushion body. This is the method illustrated, but it will be understood that the same result may be obtained in any other suitable manner.

An expansion block 20 of rubber or other suitable material is provided with a cylindrical aperture 2! which is engaged by the screw l8, a spacing washer 22 being provided between the under surface of the block 28 and the plate IS, the periphery of which washer 22 being within the periphery of the block. At the upper side of the block 21] a nut 23 is engaged upon the screw ill, the periphery of this nut being within the periphery of the block 26. The thickness of the washer 22 is less than the thickness of the portion of the leg to which the slide is to be attached, and the non-circular plan outline shape of the block 20 corresponds to the shape of the aperture in said portion, so that the block may be easily fitted within said opening and will be held thereby against rotation.

As shown in Fig. 3 the tubular metal leg 24 is of square cross-section, and in its lower end there is inserted a reinforcing plate 25 which is secured in place by welding or other suitable means. The plate 25 is provided with a square aperture 26, and as above pointed out the plan outline of the plug 20 corresponds to the square shape of this aperture, being slightly smaller so that it may be easily engaged with it. The aperture 26 being positioned inwardly of the edges of the plate 25 provides a shoulder within the hollow of the leg extending laterally outwardly from the aperture.

As shown in Fig. 4 the washer 22 spaces the lower edge of the block 20 from the plate IS, the purpose of this being to prevent the rubber from pressing against the plate l9 during its vertical compression and lateral expansion, as presently will be more fully described. At the same time the lower end of the block engages within the aperture 26 to a sufficient depth to retain the block against rotation. With the parts inserted as shown in Fig. 4 the body ll] of the slide and the screw I8 carried thereby is turned, screwing down the nut 23 and causing the block 29 to be axially compressed and laterally expanded, the outward bulging of the outer surface taking place between the inner edge of the aperture 26 and the nut 23, and laterally over the shoulder provided at the inner face of the plate 25 adjacent the aperture 26, thereby producing a rivet-like formation which effectually secures the slide to the furniture leg as shown in Fig. 5. The rubber block upon being expanded seals the aperture 26 and also forms a resilient insulating connection between the slide and the leg. In order to remove the slide it is only necessary to turn,

the body portion 10 and screw [8 in reverse direction causing the nut to move upwardly upon. the screw l8 so that. the plug 20 contracts laterally and may slide freely through the; aperture 26.

The relatively small: diameter washer 22- and the metal plate 19 provide a metal bearing between the rubber members I0 and 20 which permits the member I0 to be turned easily by hand with a minimum of frictional resistance.

In Figs. 6 to 10 I have illustrated a modification of the invention adapted especially for attachment to a horizontal cylindrical tubular leg portion. The leg 21 has a non-circular aperture 28 provided in its lower portion, and this may be conveniently produced by grinding transversely with a suitable cylindrical grinding tool, the cylindrical grinding cut transversely of the cylindrical leg producing an oval aperture. It will be understood that the aperture may be produced in any other suitable way, and may be of square or of other suitable non-circular shape. In any case the rubber block Zll is shaped to fit with an easy sliding fit into the opening 28, the block 20 in the exemplary device illustrated being therefore of oval plan outline. The plate [9 as employed in the first embodiment is replaced by a washer I?! having a concave upper surface 29 shaped to fit the outer cylindrical surface of the leg 21, and which also encloses the ends of the hole 28, as shown in Fig. 10. The Washer 22 is preferably of rectangular shape and has its periphery entirely within the periphery of the block 28 its ends engaging the concave surface of the plate It! at each side of the screw l8 so that it forms a flat bridge across the concave surface for supporting the flat lower surface of the block 20 The nut 23 is also of rectangular shape and has its periphery disposed entirely within the plan outline of the block 20 The manner of attachment is substantially similar to the first embodiment, the block 20* in its nonexpanded position as shown in Figs. 6 and '7 being inserted in the opening 28 and being expanded by rotating the body it] and screw I8, causing the nut 23 to move downwardly upon the screw to axially compress and laterally expand the block 20, so that its outer surface bulges between the inner edge of the aperture 28 and the nut 23.

While I have illustrated the invention in connection with a cushion slide, it will be understood that the invention may be combined with any other type of slide or with a caster or other furniture support.

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiments of the invention, but it will be understood that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a furniture support, for attachment to a hollow portion of furniture having a wall portion provided with an aperture positioned inwardly of the edges of said wall portion to provide a shoulder within said hollow portion extending laterally outwardly from said aperture, a floor engaging element having an upper surface wider laterally than said aperture and adapted to oppose the outer face. of said wall in surrounding relation to said aperture, an expansion element including a rubber body laterally expansible upon axial compression rotatably connected at the upper side of said floor engaging element of an axial dimension greater than the thickness of said wall portion and a lateral dimension in its non-compressed state permitting it to be inserted through said aperture with its upper end portion axially beyond the inner face of said wall portion and its lower end portion laterally within said aperture, and

adapted to cooperatively engage the wall of said aperture to resist relative turning of said rubber body in its non-compressed state, the lower end portion of said expansion element being smaller laterally than said aperture and in rotatable bearing engagement with the upper surface of said floor engaging element, and compression means connected to said floor engaging element and engaging said expansion element adapted to efiect axial compression of said rubber body through manual rotation of said floor engaging element relatively to said expansion element whereby said rubber body expands laterally over said shoulder.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, further characterised in that said lower end portion of said expansion element includes a non-compressible washer at its lower end of smaller diameter than said aperture.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, further characterised in that said floor engaging element includes a rubber body and a non-compressible washer at its upper side of greater diameter than said aperture.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, further characterised in that said lower end portion of said expansion element includes a non-compressible washer at its lower end of smaller diameter than said aperture, and said floor engaging element includes a rubber body and a non-compressible washer at its upper side of greater diameter than said aperture and in rotatable bearing contact with said first mentioned washer.

WALTER F. HEROLD. 

